What I’m Thankful For

­Welcome to the December issue!

And since we just passed Thanksgiving (hope you didn’t move up too many belt loops!) and we’ve entered the season of giving, I thought it was prudent to list all the things I’m thankful for this year. Strap in – it’s about to get sappy in here. In no particular order:

1)    I’m thankful for light-emitting diodes. My opinions on the ongoing incandescent ban, notwithstanding, LEDs have been a godsend for both the industry and consumers. And since retrofitting my home with LED lighting, my electric bill has gone down dramatically over the last several years. Seriously, the utility company now lists us below the local average for monthly usage (and very close to an “efficient” home).

2)    I’m thankful for artificial intelligence. Actually, that’s not quite accurate. I’m thankful that so many intelligent people – some of the leaders of industry – are sounding the alarm about AI’s potentially existential danger and not declaring their blind allegiance to the latest AI chatbot or generative AI program. It’s far more difficult to stand against the tide than make a video of a cat doing the YMCA.

3)     I’m thankful for American manufacturing. Hear me out on this one. Yes, due to a combination of low labor costs, lax safety regulations, and a very blasé attitude towards child labor – amongst other factors – China is still pacing the world in manufacturing, accounting for nearly a fifth of the globe’s output. But American manufacturing is on the upswing, having fully recovered from the pandemic and now experiencing modest year-over-year increases in production.

4)    I’m thankful for family – my son, my wife, and my 3-year-old miniature schnauzer, Bella. This season is all about being nicer and more magnanimous towards others (or at least tolerate them better). But that all starts and ends at home. Without family and loved ones – whether that’s a nuclear family, a significant other, or a clowder of cats (what, you didn’t know the term for a group of felines?) – the holidays give us the clarity to realize what’s most important.

5)    I’m thankful for good food and the occasional good drink – Hey, I never said this list was entirely unselfish….

6)    I’m thankful for the generosity and hospitality of the industry – Yes, we’re all in this game to earn a paycheck, but every time I visit a trade show (the last one being the Battery and EV Show), I’m reminded just how magnanimous the people underpinning this industry can be. I’ve met countless quality people in my travels – both old and new faces – and I’m sure I’ll experience more of the same in the new year.

Enjoy the December issue!
 

Best Regards,

Jason Lomberg

North American Editor, PSD